Diritto Municipale

The Diritto Municipale (English: Municipal Law) was a compilation of the Hospitallers' and Malta's laws during their stay on the Island. It was commissioned by Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc in 1781 and completed in 1784. This is one of the more humane set of laws ever compiled by the Order. Even though it was mainly oppressive and monarchistic, it was slightly influenced by the enlightened ideology sweeping all around Europe at the time.

In 1781, Grandmaster Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc assigned the creation of this Code of Laws to a Neapolitan lawyer, Giandonato Rogadeo whom had previously successfully defended the Order from lawsuits that it had gotten from Naples. Rogadeo, however was arrogant, looking down on and ignoring all of the suggestions given by the Maltese lawyers and judges. This caused it to be negatively judged as it was not well-suited for Malta's customs. Rohan, taken aback by the verdict, appointed another commission made up mainly of members of the Order. This resulted to the members of the commission having the same opinion as the Maltese. Rogadeo, affronted, asked for permission to leave Malta. The task was therefore forwarded to a Maltese lawyer Federico Gatt who devised the new code of laws. On 23 December 1782 a new council was set up, to revise the finished product. The council approved of it with minor alterations. It was ultimately disseminated on 17 July 1784.

The Diritto Municipale is divided into seven books, as follows;

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